Brad Marchand will not be traded, according to Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli.

By Dan CagenDaily News staff

June 13, 2014
12:09 p.m.

Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli was quick to refute a trade rumor that popped up Thursday night, which said there have been talks to trade winger Brad Marchand to the Sharks for veteran winger Patrick Marleau.

"I have had no discussions for Marchand and I have no plans to trade him," the general manager told reporters. "I don't make it a practice to respond to reports in the social media but occasionally it is necessary."

Marchand is coming off an unsatisfactory postseason in which in didn't score a goal in 12 games, and has a 20-game playoff goal scoring drought. The 26-year-old rebounded from a dreadful start to the regular season to finish with 25 goals, three off his career high.

Marchand is entering the second season of a four-year, $18 million contract that works out to a $4.5 million annual cap hit. He has a modified no-trade clause.

Trading Marchand for Marleau would have made little sense. The Bruins would have swapped a younger player with similar offensive potential (Marleau scored 33 goals last season, but Marchand had more goals of the two in 2013) for a 34-year-old entering the first season of a three-year, $20 million contract (a cap hit $2.167 million higher than Marchand's).

Faced with a bonus overage penalty, the Bruins are trying to find extra space in the salary cap to re-sign Jarome Iginla or pursue another capable right wing. They do not need an expensive left-hand shot like Marleau, considering six of their top-nine forwards are already left shots.